Davidsmeyer seeks solution to Florence bridge limits

FLORENCE — With newly imposed weight limits on the Florence Bridge threatening to dent the local economy, Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer is working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to come up with a solution.

IDOT imposed the new limits on the bridge last week — 18 tons for single-axle and 20 tons for dual-axle trucks. The limits reduce truck traffic, because semi-trucks can weigh up to 40 tons with a full load and 15 tons when empty, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The new limits will be in place until repairs to the nearly century-old bridge are completed.

With the next Illinois River crossing several miles north on Interstate 72, the limits could hinder trucking companies trying to cross the river.

“We’re continuing the back and forth with IDOT, trying to come up with ideas here and there,” Davidsmeyer said. “It’s not going to be over until we come up with an idea.”

Repairs could start in October and are expected to take around nine months. When the repairs begin, two-way traffic on the bridge will be reduced to one lane by temporary traffic signals, IDOT representative Guy Tridgell said.

A minimum spacing requirement initially was suggested as a solution for allowing trucks to cross safely without breaking the weight limits. With the current load posting, there is no need, Tridgell said.

“With that kind of traffic staging and the current load restrictions, truck spacing will not be an issue,” he said. “We will continue to monitor throughout the course of the project.”

But the load restrictions still inhibit truckers from crossing the bridge and, with agricultural cargo and other goods needing to cross the river in a timely manner, Davidsmeyer hopes to find a solution for truckers that doesn’t hurt the local economy, he said.

“They were saying that it’s going to be short term, but short term when you’re talking about people hauling rock out of the quarry or you’re talking to people in Scott County (who are) trying to haul corn to the other side, it’s never short enough,” Davidsmeyer said. “I think there’s always a solution. It just depends on how difficult and how costly it is. We just have to have the right people putting their heads together and the willingness to get it done.”

Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper.